Websites are pretty much a necessity for any business that wishes to remain relevant, and advertising prices on that website can be a good way to draw consumers in. But what happens if you make an error in advertising your prices online? Is your business guilty of fraudulent advertising or deceptive business practices? Do you need to give a refund? Here are a few things that can happen if your business lists the wrong prices on its website:...
Video game retailer GameStop has announced that managers at each of its 6,500 stores nationwide will receive free PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles before the year is out. These consoles are by no means cheap, running between $400 and $500, but GameStop may be gifting the consoles as a way to educate their management on the much-anticipated products, reports Forbes. These gifts may be work-related, but are GameStop’s gifts technically considered taxable income?...
A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed the 2007 Bloomberg pregnancy discrimination lawsuit brought by the EEOC on the grounds that the government failed to show sufficient evidence that such discrimination was a company-wide policy. The lawsuit, filed as a class-action, alleged that Bloomberg L.P. systematically targeted pregnant women and those who took maternity leave by reducing their pay, instigating demotions, and excluding them from meetings and other events. For a group of employees to allege discrimination on a class action basis, they must show that there was a “pattern or practice” of discrimination such that the alleged behavior rose to the level of a company-wide policy....
In the wake of the BP oil spill, many wondered how economic victims would be able to recover their losses. The legal process moves slowly, especially when it involves multi-national corporations and billions of dollars. Under pressure from the Obama administration, the company created the $20 billion BP compensation Fund. Today, the fund opens for claims and is already facing criticism. However, Kenneth Feinberg, who is in charge of the fund, said that claimants will find a more efficient process through the fund than they would encounter in the traditional legal system....
You can sue for future medical expenses. But just like every aspect of an injury claim, damages must be proven. So you will have to show why – based on the information available now and actuarial calculations about future costs – you will need the amount of money you are seeking for your healthcare needs down the line. Proving damages in any case – whether personal injury, products liability, or medical malpractice – is a complicated matter....
In order to present a case, attorneys need evidence. That evidence may take the form of witness testimony, documents, or physical evidence, and that evidence must be presented in court. But not all evidence is easily obtainable or voluntarily makes its way into court. And for those instances, courts have subpoena power. A subpoena is a court order to produce documents or testify in court or other legal proceeding, and, as evidenced by its Latin translation “under penalty,” those who defy valid subpoenas risk civil or criminal penalties....
On Monday, a new food safety law took effect in China. After a rash of scandals related to unsafe food products, the new law attempts to increase safety standards, institute a food product recall system, raise penalties for violators, and create a better system for risk assessment. With the enormous number of producers, and local interests in keeping manufacturers open, however, many predict enforcement will prove a key hurdle. US consumers have an active interest in Chinese food safety considering that China is the third largest source of US food product imports, according to a September 2008 Congressional Research Services report....
If the Health Agency Takes Up Smoking, It Could Be Bad News for Big Tobacco The U.S. Senate has passed legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) broad authority over cigarettes and other tobacco products – including the power to regulate product ingredients, monitor sales, inspect tobacco industry facilities, restrict advertising, even control the “Surgeon General” warnings that come on every pack of cigarettes. The Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act passed in the Senate Thursday, by a 79-17 vote....
Adopting an adult is something individuals do out of maternal or paternal love. But the Florida man who adopted his girlfriend probably did so for financial reasons. Goodman, 48, adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend Heather Laruso Hutchins. Plaintiff’s attorneys say that Goodman made the unprecedented move in order to shield his assets from potential liability. John Goodman, a Florida businessman, was being sued by the parents of Scott Patrick. Goodman allegedly ran through a stop sign, hitting a car driven by Patrick....
Employee injuries can create more work for a small business owner, but you don’t have to let them become a liability. Even if your business is a corporate office, consider following these steps when an employee is injured on the job: If you or your employees suspect an employee has seriously injured him or herself, call 911. You may train your employees to deliver life-saving aid (i.e., CPR) on customers and fellow employees, but you still need to seek emergency medical aid for serious injuries....
If your company deals internationally or serves a large non-English speaking clientele, you may be considering requiring your employees to speak both English and another language. But is requiring foreign language for a job a form of discrimination? The answer is: it depends. With jobs still in short supply and high demand, and an increasingly diverse workplace, job discrimination complaints reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have been running at all time highs....
New Kansas abortion rules have been blocked by a federal judge. The Kansas abortion regulations would have meant that two out of the state’s three abortion providers would have been unable to continue operations. Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri was the only abortion provider to receive a license that would have allowed them to continue their services if the new regulations went into effect, reports the Associated Press. The regulations apply to abortion providers who perform more than five non-emergency abortions a month, requiring them to get a license....
The Joneses just got a brand new, backyard swimming pool for the summer. And while you’re not worried about keeping up with them, you might be worried about keeping your kids safe. Accidental drownings in swimming pools occur so frequently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has an entire site dedicated to pool safety. So are the Joneses responsible for putting a fence around their new pool? Duty to Prevent Harm Swimming pools can be great fun, but they can also be what are known under the law as an “attractive nuisance....
The FAA is poised to change the rules on electronic devices in flight in order to keep up with the ever-increasing popularity of tablets and e-readers on planes. An advisory panel for the Federal Aviation Administration is set to convene to discuss relaxing its rigid restrictions for many passenger-popular gadgets, The New York Times reports. A decision by the panel could potentially allow passengers to watch movies and listen to podcasts during takeoff and landing, if their digital devices aren’t connected to Wi-Fi....
Mistakes happen. However, when there is a $400 million typo in the Garden State’s Race to the Top application, the mistake can cost dollars and now a job with the New Jersey Education Commission. The clerical error on the part of New Jersey Education Commissioner Bret Schundler has led to his very public firing. Schundler was a candidate for governor in 2001 and an outspoken proponent of education reform. Although the state’s unemployment benefits, a temporary financial fix for those individuals out of work, will not equate to the $141,000 paycheck Bret Schdundler was receiving as Education Commissioner, the case of the clerical error is not over yet....
Throwing an office holiday party is a great way to show your employees how much you appreciate them, but don’t forget that you’re still the boss. That doesn’t mean you can’t relax and have a good time with your workers. But it does mean that if anything goes wrong, it’s on your head. So some pre-holiday party preparation is necessary. There are several things that can ruin your company holiday party....
Several Pennslyvania men pleaded not guilty to charges related to a fatal racially motivated beating, along with police department corruption. According to Citizensvoice.com, a federal grand jury returned multiple indictments. The three indictments include federal racial hate crime, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, official misconduct and extortion charges. According to the indictment, Ramirez was walking home from a local festival, when he was attacked by the PA men who yelled racial slurs at him....
If you have been following the story of gay Mississippi teen Constance McMillen and her fight to take the date of her choice (in the outfit of her choice) to her prom in Fulton Miss., you know that McMillen and the Itawamba County School District went to court this week. Federal court Judge Glen H. Davidson heard the arguments by the high school which cancelled the prom because of McMillen’s request to attend with her girlfriend....
Qantas Airbus A380 was only three minutes into a flight departing Sydney, Australia when the plane began to spew pieces of metal, and was forced to make an emergency landing. The culprit for the Qantas engine failures may be oil leaks. The Qantas Airbus A380, the world’s newest and largest commercial airliner, has had multiple mechanical issues in recent days as worries about flight safety continue to grow. “We believe this is most likely the product of material failures or some type of design issue....
You’re bombarded with ads every day, so you know they can be annoying and even put you off a product entirely. Yet you too are in business and must promote, so you’re tempted to create an ad campaign that makes claims you can’t back with facts. Don’t, and here’s why. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates advertising to ensure its truth. There are also state consumer protection laws that dictate what claims advertisers can make, as well as rules specific to certain media or industries....
